1972 Topps football card of former pro football fullback Wayne Patrick, who played 5 seasons for the Buffalo Bills in both the AFL and NFL. He was a backfield mate of O.J. Simpson in the Hall of Famer’s early years, and averaged over 4 yards a carry during that time while also serving as Simpson’s lead blocker. Patrick worked at the Harrison Radiator plant after retiring as a player, and died of heart and kidney disease in 2010.
1969 Topps football card of former pro football linebacker Paul Guidry, who played 8 years in the AFL and NFL, 7 of those coming with the Buffalo Bills. He was named an All-AFC player in 1970, the first season played with the leagues combined under the merger. Guidry served as union player representative for the Bills during his time there. He served in the U.S. Army reserves for 6 years, and also has supported a golf tournament for Cystic Fibrosis in Tennessee.
1977 Topps football card of former pro football wide receiver John Holland, who had a brief 4 year career in the NFL, with 3 of those seasons coming with the Buffalo Bills. Topps didn’t have exclusive rights to the NFL that year, hence the missing logo air-brushed off of Holland’s helmet. Also, apparently he played in an era when receiver gloves looked like the same ones a steelworker might wear. His shining moment came in a Monday Night game in which he caught a pair of 50+ yard touchdown passes for Buffalo. Holland finished his career with another 4 years in the CFL for 3 different clubs.
1961 Fleer football card of former pro football defensive lineman Mack Yoho, who played 4 seasons in the American Football League for the Buffalo Bills. He played a couple of years in the Canadian League for Ottawa before the Bills signed him to their roster for their inaugural season in 1960. Besides playing defense, Yoho also punted and handled placekicking duties. After his playing days ended, he served as defensive line coach for a pair of seasons at Yale.
1957 Topps football card of former pro football back Tommy Wilson, who played 8 seasons in the NFL for 3 different teams, despite not playing in college. His best years came in his time with the Los Angeles Rams from 1956 until 1961, when he was named to his one and only Pro Bowl. In his post-playing days Wilson fought for benefits for retired NFL players. His son Steve Wilson played for 10 years in the league as a defensive back. Wilson passed away in 2006.
1991 Pacific football card of former pro quarterback Brett Favre, who played in the NFL for 20 seasons for 4 different teams, most notably with the Green Bay Packers. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player in the mid-1990s, guided the Packers to 2 Super Bowls, winning # XXXI, was voted to the Pro Bowl 11 times and was a six-time first or second team All Pro. Favre was also named to the All Decade team for the ’90s and as a member of the league’s 100th Anniversary All Time team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Favre’s 321 consecutive starts are an NFL record, making him the league’s all time “Iron Man”.
1977 Topps football card of former pro football fullback Sam “Bam” Cunningham, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, all for the New England Patriots. Known for his bruising running style, he was a Pro Bowler in 1978 and is a member of the Patriots’ Hall of Fame. His younger brother is Randall Cunningham, who enjoyed a long NFL career as a quarterback. Cunningham passed away in 2021 at the age of 71.
1969 Topps football card of former pro football running back Johnny Roland, who played for 8 years in the NFL, all but 1 for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was voted as Rookie of The Year in 1966 and a two-time Pro Bowler. Roland has had a long 27 year career as an assistant coach for 7 different NFL teams, and also served as an assistant at Notre Dame for a year. He was a member of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl-winning staff in 1985. His post-playing days also include ownership of radio stations in St. Louis and rural Alabama.
1974 Topps football card of former pro football quarterback Scott Hunter, who played for 4 different teams in an 8 year career in the NFL. He had the unenviable task of replacing the legendary Bart Starr as Green Bay’s quarterback in 1972 when Starr was hurt, and never lived up to those standards. He was a journeyman backup for most of his pro football time. After his playing days ended, Hunter has worked as an investment broker and a sportscaster for nearly 2 decades. He is also a commercial pilot with over 4,000 flying hours to his credit.
1969 Topps football card of former pro football quarterback Craig Morton, who played a long and storied 18 years in the NFL for 3 different teams. He appeared in 3 Super Bowls, in losing efforts with Dallas and Denver and also as a member of the Cowboys’ championship team in 1971. He won both the AFC Offensive Player of The Year and Comeback Player of The Year awards in 1977 with the Broncos. After retiring as a player, Morton served as head coach of the USFL’s Denver Gold.